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Chris Wesseling

Waiver Wired

More Bell-Cow!

Brent Celek, Eagles – I've done my best to hype Celek since the offseason began, but he's still owned in just half of all leagues. Are you looking for consistency? L.J. Smith is out of the picture, hot-shot rookie Cornelius Ingram is out for the season, and No. 2 receiver Kevin Curtis is gimpy. Celek will be a favorite target of Donovan McNabb early and often. Are you looking for upside? In a Week 8 spot-start for Smith last season, Celek reeled in six catches for an Eagles record 131 yards. In the NFC championship game he caught 10 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. If you want TE1 production at the low, low cost of a waiver pickup, grab Celek.

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Vernon Davis, 49ers – With the exit of Mike Martz comes Jimmy Raye's tight-end friendly system and constant Rotoworld reminders to put last season's stats out of your mind. Davis, still unowned in over half of all leagues, is primed for a career year and has an outside chance to lead the 49ers in receptions. The early-season absences of Michael Crabtree and Brandon Jones will only lead to more looks for the tight end. Expect borderline TE1 production out of Davis this year.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins – Fasano was an inconsistent, low-end TE2 for much of last season while splitting production with David Martin. The two combined for 65 receptions, 904 yards, and 10 touchdowns. With Martin out of the picture, Fasano will add more receptions and yardage while remaining a red zone threat. A season total of 45/600/8 is easily within reach.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tony Scheffler, Broncos – We've recommended staying away from Schefter at his current ADP due to his uncertain role in Josh McDaniels' offense. The truth is nobody knows just how involved Scheffler will be. There have been enough reports about McDaniels' plans to feature him that he's worth the price of a waiver pickup. Schefter is too talented to be pushed aside, and the Broncos have too many question marks at wide receiver right now. He's a TE2 with TE1 upside.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jermichael Finley, Packers – This offense is firing on all cylinders, and Finley has emerged as a major weapon. While his upside is limited by the presence of Donald Lee, Finley is kind of promising young talent that smart owners stash in hopes of an early-season breakout.

Bengals - Their impressive finish down the stretch last season has been well documented. To that unit they've added last year's first-rounder Keith Rivers, veterans Tank Johnson and Roy Williams, plus rookies Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson. Better still, they get to face Kyle Orton's mangled finger in Week 1. Orton has been throwing interceptions at an alarming rate this preseason, and the finger injury only makes his life more difficult.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Seahawks - Another team facing a quarterback with an injury to his throwing hand, the Seahawks get Marc Bulger and the Rams this week. The return of Patrick Kerney and the additions of Aaron Curry and Cory Redding will bolster the pass rush. Opening in the always-imposing Qwest Field, the Seahawks are a nice Week 1 matchup play.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Saints - Greg Williams' new defense has been impressive in preseason action, and they open against a rookie quarterback making his first start. Though Matthew Stafford has played better than his numbers indicate, he did turn the ball over far too easily.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Labor Day 2008's last-minute gems brought us an instant waiver wire star in Kurt Warner and several breakout performers such as Eddie Royal, Pierre Thomas, and Steve Slaton. This year's "Waiver Wired" debut features a possible Week 1 bell-cow in New Orleans, a pair of wildcard stashes under center, several candidates to step in as immediate assets at receiver, and a handful of underrated tight ends.

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This is the first Waiver Wired of the season, so let's review the rules:

Every Tuesday, I'll go over the best available pickups at every fantasy position except kicker. Every league setup is different, so I'll try to include players who may be available in shallow leagues, and lesser-known players that are worth trying in deep leagues. I give a recommendation for each player, such as "Should be owned in 12-team leagues." This doesn't mean you should own him, just that he's good enough to improve one of the rosters in your league. If I write, "Must be owned," or "Should be owned in all leagues," I'm recommending doing what you can to find a spot.

Most of my leagues have moved to sites which allow owners to place interesting free agents on a "watch list" for future consideration. As such, each week I will throw in a few names that should be placed on watch lists for easy access when a quick decision is needed.

On to the players.

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QUARTERBACKS

Shaun Hill, 49ers – Hill has an attractive Week 1 matchup against Arizona in what promises to be a high-scoring contest. Also on the docket in the first half of the season are the Seahawks, Rams, Texans and Colts. For all the talk of Hill competing against a tougher schedule this year, that's hardly a murderer's row. After finishing in the Top-10 in points per game last season, Hill deserves to be rostered in more than 47 percent of all leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matthew Stafford, Lions – Mark Sanchez had better preseason numbers and enjoys the protection a fine offensive line, so why Stafford instead? The Lions defense, while greatly improved, is still among the worst in the NFL, which means Stafford is going to be padding his stats in comeback attempts on a regular basis. His biggest edge, however, comes in the form of the most explosive receiver in the game, Calvin Johnson. Stafford's arm isn't just first-round caliber -- it's in the rare air with Jay Cutler and the younger version of Brett Favre. With an uncoverable Johnson streaking down the sidelines, look for a lot of drives like the opening set against the Bills last week. Stafford will make plenty of rookie mistakes, but he'll also move the offense aggressively down the field and into scoring territory.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Matt Leinart, Cardinals – We covered this one in a late-round fliers article last week. Why draft a mediocre QB2 who will never get off your bench when you could be stashing a potential asset? If the 38-year-old Kurt Warner -- still recovering from hip surgery -- misses time, Leinart immediately becomes a weekly difference-maker.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Chad Pennington, Dolphins – The Dolphins have a much tougher schedule this season, but Week 2 at home against a banged up Colts secondary and Week 3 at San Diego offer promise. Pennington finished last year as a high-end QB2, but he remains unowned in 45 percent of all fantasy leagues. You could do worse for a bye-week fill-in.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Kerry Collins, Titans – It will be interesting to see how the Titans, a team that yearns to take the air out of the ball, cope with the loss of Albert Haynesworth. They won't be able control tempo without the most disruptive defensive lineman in the game, so look for Mike Heimerdinger to open the offense more than expected. Collins has a tough Week 1 matchup against the Steelers, but his schedule loosens up starting the following week against the Texans.

Mike Bell, Saints – Starter Pierre Thomas (MCL sprain) is still walking with a noticeable limp, and his chances of playing in the opener are looking bleaker by the day. P.T. owners don't have to look far for a potential lead back. Thomas' backup could be carrying a heavy workload in a juicy matchup against the Lions in Week 1, yet Bell is owned in less than 10 percent of all leagues. Reggie Bush, struggling through swelling in his knee and a preseason calf injury, will play at less than 100 percent, which means leaves plenty of touches and short-yardage opportunities for Bell. The Saints' No. 3 back makes for a fine RB2/flex play against Detroit barring a miraculous late-week recovery by Thomas.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

James Davis, Browns – Sure, the Browns kept Jamal Lewis on the final roster, but it's not like they found a magic elixir to take him back to 2003. This offense is going to struggle early and often, with Lewis coming under fire as he flirts with 3.0 YPC. Last year's "We want Brady" chants will morph into this year's "We want Davis" pleas as fans wonder why a rookie back boasting 7.8 YPC in preseason action is being wasted behind an aging plodder. Expect Davis to eat into Lewis' production in September before taking the reins in October.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Glen Coffee, 49ers – Frank Gore owners should move him to the top of the list. After Coffee's preseason coming-out party, he's officially a must handcuff for a back who gets banged up as much as Gore does. Even non-Gore owners would do well to snag Coffee as an end of the roster stash. How many backups have the potential for RB1 production if the starter goes down? If it helps, think of Coffee as a West coast version of Chester Taylor.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Cadillac Williams, Buccaneers – For all that he's been through the past few seasons, every one of us should be pulling for Caddy. That's why it stings a bit to be the one throwing cold water on his late preseason hype. While he's worth a roster spot in many leagues, Cadillac's ceiling is capped by the "2-2-1" running back rotation and his own injury history. The Bucs didn't sign Derrick Ward to waste away on the bench, and they're certainly not going to ride Caddy until his wheels fall off once again. Pick him up, sure, but reel in expectations.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Michael Bush, Raiders – Listed by the Oakland coaches as one of seven playmakers on the roster, Bush is a lottery ticket that can be cashed in for megabucks if Darren McFadden goes down. The 27/177/2 line from his Week 17 start against the Bucs is a useful reminder of his monster upside.

Josh Morgan, 49ers – Owned in just 49 percent of all CBSSports.com leagues, Morgan fits squarely between bigger-named veterans Laveranues Coles and Derrick Mason in our projections. The second-year playmaker is the odds-on favorite to lead the 49ers in receiving as an exciting, high-ceiling WR4. A starting receiver with Morgan's explosiveness, speed and physicality should top the priority list for any league where he remains available.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Justin Gage, Titans – Among players being drafted as late-round fliers, Gage may have the best chance of producing WR3 numbers from Week 1 on. Still owned in just half of all leagues, the Titans No. 1 receiver averaged six receptions for 105 yards in three games to close out last season. During offseason and exhibition action, he has continued to emerge as Kerry Collins' favorite target. We have Gage ranked among the Top-40 receivers going into the season.

Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues

Earl Bennett, Bears – Somebody has to catch passes at wide receiver in this offense, and the cupboard is practically bare behind Bennett and deep threat Devin Hester. Jay Cutler's former Vanderbilt teammate has been the recipient of high praise from coaches and beat writers all offseason, so it's time to put up or shut up. Here's your chance, kid.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Laurent Robinson, Rams – After a 2008 season lost to an assortment of injuries, Robinson is once again flashing the promise shown late in his rookie season. The former third-rounder has the size and the 4.3 speed to flourish opposite Donnie Avery.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Chaz Schilens, Raiders – Stash! Schilens had emerged as the only Raiders receiver worth drafting in training camp, but a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot landed him on quite a few "do not draft" lists. He's aiming for a Week 2 return, which makes Schilens a better use of a roster spot than your typical late-round flotsam and jetsam. If he's unavailable, the Jags' Mike Sims-Walker is a nice substitute stash.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues

Davone Bess, Dolphins – Brian Hartline's preseason hype is beginning to fade, and Greg Camarillo is clearly not 100 percent recovered from ACL surgery. Bess is listed as the current starter, but Camarillo ran with the ones in Monday's practice. My hunch is that Bess opens the season opposite Ted Ginn. Regardless of whether he starts or not, Bess is worthy of a roster spot in PPR leagues.

Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues and PPR leagues

Nate Washington, Titans – This is just a reminder that Washington is unowned in 40 percent of all leagues, and he'll likely return from his hamstring injury in Week 2. If you have the roster space, he makes for a fine stash. Washington could be worth consideration as a fantasy starter in October.

Brent Celek, Eagles – I've done my best to hype Celek since the offseason began, but he's still owned in just half of all leagues. Are you looking for consistency? L.J. Smith is out of the picture, hot-shot rookie Cornelius Ingram is out for the season, and No. 2 receiver Kevin Curtis is gimpy. Celek will be a favorite target of Donovan McNabb early and often. Are you looking for upside? In a Week 8 spot-start for Smith last season, Celek reeled in six catches for an Eagles record 131 yards. In the NFC championship game he caught 10 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns. If you want TE1 production at the low, low cost of a waiver pickup, grab Celek.

Recommendation: Should be owned 12-team leagues

Vernon Davis, 49ers – With the exit of Mike Martz comes Jimmy Raye's tight-end friendly system and constant Rotoworld reminders to put last season's stats out of your mind. Davis, still unowned in over half of all leagues, is primed for a career year and has an outside chance to lead the 49ers in receptions. The early-season absences of Michael Crabtree and Brandon Jones will only lead to more looks for the tight end. Expect borderline TE1 production out of Davis this year.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Anthony Fasano, Dolphins – Fasano was an inconsistent, low-end TE2 for much of last season while splitting production with David Martin. The two combined for 65 receptions, 904 yards, and 10 touchdowns. With Martin out of the picture, Fasano will add more receptions and yardage while remaining a red zone threat. A season total of 45/600/8 is easily within reach.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Tony Scheffler, Broncos – We've recommended staying away from Schefter at his current ADP due to his uncertain role in Josh McDaniels' offense. The truth is nobody knows just how involved Scheffler will be. There have been enough reports about McDaniels' plans to feature him that he's worth the price of a waiver pickup. Schefter is too talented to be pushed aside, and the Broncos have too many question marks at wide receiver right now. He's a TE2 with TE1 upside.

Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues

Jermichael Finley, Packers – This offense is firing on all cylinders, and Finley has emerged as a major weapon. While his upside is limited by the presence of Donald Lee, Finley is kind of promising young talent that smart owners stash in hopes of an early-season breakout.

Bengals - Their impressive finish down the stretch last season has been well documented. To that unit they've added last year's first-rounder Keith Rivers, veterans Tank Johnson and Roy Williams, plus rookies Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson. Better still, they get to face Kyle Orton's mangled finger in Week 1. Orton has been throwing interceptions at an alarming rate this preseason, and the finger injury only makes his life more difficult.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Seahawks - Another team facing a quarterback with an injury to his throwing hand, the Seahawks get Marc Bulger and the Rams this week. The return of Patrick Kerney and the additions of Aaron Curry and Cory Redding will bolster the pass rush. Opening in the always-imposing Qwest Field, the Seahawks are a nice Week 1 matchup play.

Recommendation: Worth picking up as a matchup play

Saints - Greg Williams' new defense has been impressive in preseason action, and they open against a rookie quarterback making his first start. Though Matthew Stafford has played better than his numbers indicate, he did turn the ball over far too easily.

Chris Wesseling is a senior football editor and Dynasty league analyst for Rotoworld.com. The 2011 NFL season marks his fifth year with Rotoworld and his third year contributing to NBCSports.com. He can be found on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.Email :Chris Wesseling